Tank-car.



"No.864,377. PA'TENTED AUG. 27,1901

F. L. IRWIN. Y

TANK GAR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1907'.

4 SHEETSSVHEET 1.

WJTNESSES; INVENTORM r nz LJhvh PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907. F. L. IRWIN.-

TANK CAR. APPLICATION FILED FEB..4,1EJO7.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

INVENTOR. flan c L [maize ATTORNEY:

WITNESSES.-

QQWW f5? PATEiITED AUG. 27, 1907.

F; L. IRWIN.

TANK GAR. 4PPLIOAI10N FILED $13.4. 1907.

4 snnnrs-snnm 4.

INVENOR. 7 Frank L. Irwin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FRANK L. IRWIN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE RALSTON STEEL CAR COMPANY,

OF COLUMBUS, OHIO; A CORPORATION.

TANK-GAR.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that FRANK L. lawn, a citizen of the United States,.residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin, State of Ohio has inventedcertain new and useful improvements in Tank-Cars, oi which the following is a specification. a g i My invention relates especially to tank cars and, comprises improvements in the underlrame construction adjacent the ends thereof, means for the seating and bracing otthe tank block, means for securing the ends of the straps and. improvements in cross-bearers and tank-supports at the bolsters.

I-t further comprises the parts and combinations or" parts hereinafter fully described and set forth in the claims. 1

In the drawings which are hereto attached and made a part of this application, Figure l is a side view of a tank car embodying my improvements, with one end thereof in vertical section; Fig, 2 is a plan view showing atone end thereof the construction with the tank in place; Fig. 3 is an end View of the tank car with the trucks omitted; Fig. .4 is a vertical transverse section through the car on a plane passing through the tank at one side of the bolster, showing a strap in place; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the tank at a cross bearer, showing the moorings for the strap, andthe diaphragmtie plate, the tank being shown in the broken dotted line; Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section through the bolster with the tank indicated by the broken dotted. line, showing the moorings for the tank strap; Fig. 7 isa longitudinal section through the member for securing the tank strap to the tank supports, said section passing centrallythrough the opening in said casting; Fig. 8 is a view of the member for securing the tank strap to the cross-bearers and also for securing the hand rail supports in place; Fig. 9 is a perspective with parts broken away of the underfiame construction at the end of the car, including thebolster; Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section through the tank at one of the cross-bearers showing the manner of securing the ends of a tank strap thereto; Fig. 11 is a view oi' the center sill near one end thereof showing the flange and part of the web cut away and bent outwardly to form a shelf for the tank block, and an abutment therefor both in the front and rear thereof and a spreader in connection therewith; Fig. 12 is .a pcrspe ':tii/e of the cross-bearer madeiip of pressed shapes; Fig. 13 is a modified form of cross-bearer cut away at center and pressed into shape;

- Fig. 14 is amodilied form of the holster tank supports.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 4 1907 Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

Serial 'llo- 355,738-

may tit into the depressions.snugly,-and thereby prevent the tendencyoi the tank to roll. Further to maintainthetank in its position againstrolling, I prov-ide'the straps shown at 8, 9, 10, Hand 12 which pass over the top of the tank and downwardly on each side thereof and are secured preferably upon the supports a'nd the cross-bearers as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6;- to tighten the strap provide a turn buckle 13 arranged near the lower end thereof. .Each end of the strap is provided with a head 14 formed thereon to prevent the strap from being withdrawn from the mooring incmbcr is inserted and the head formed thereon, thereby preventing the same from being drawn outwardly; As is apparent in Fig. 5 themember 15 is secured against the cross-bearer at/an angle thereto instead of being perpcndicular; therefore when, through its tendency to roll, the tank exerts a stress upon the strap the pull upon the cross-bearer will not be directly vertical, but on account of the angular position of the mooring member the stress will he directed towards the center of the cross-bearer where the bracing construct ion shown at 20 is located, thereby throwing the stress whcrcit can th'c support'22 for the hand rail 23, whichlnltcr is prothe side of the car-as is clearly shown in vidcd along Fig. l. I

At' tliebolstcr 1 provide a different mooring member for securing the ends ol the tank strap shown in half section at 24 in Fig. 7; this member is made up of a body plate 25 (see Fig. 9) having the edge flanges 26 and 27 exiendingat right angles thereto in both. directions, and thewcbs 28 and 29 thereon crossing each other substantially at right angles, their intersection being enlarged to form theopcningiii) through which one end of the strap is inserted. This strap mooring 24 ispositioncd between the tank supports 31 and 32 mounted upon the bolster, and is secured thereto through its side flanges by rivets shown at 33. It is set at auangle bclowthe horizontal plane of the tank supports and when pull is exerted upon the tank strap, the stress is. thereby thrown inwardly towards the central construction of the car which is strongest and therefore best able to sustain the strain. It,will

be under ood that in rounding curves the centrifugal force set up by a heavily loaded tank isvery great as to resolve the forces along the median line of the of the tank to roll.

underframe, and at the same time locate the points oi application of the force at as wide an interval as possible, so as to check in the beginning, the tendency It is apparent that if the tank strap mooring members were secured directly to the central portion of the underirame construction, all the stress set up by the roll of the tank would be sustained by the strongest portion of the car, but on ac.- count of the narrow base or dlstance-between. said members the initial movement could not be readily overcome, and I provide for this by spacing the said wardly towards the central portion of thecar positioning the mooring members at an angle as de scribed above. I

Extending centrally'through the undcrframe 'an'd longitudinally thereof from end to end of the car is the center sill, formed, as shown, of the channels 35 and 36, and the cover plate 37 riveted to the top flanges of the channels and extending therewith to a point adjacent the end of the car, as appears in Fig. 9. This form of construction renders the center sill massive and of great strength, andafiords a firm foundation upon which to position the tank. supporting constructions 2 and 2, the bolsters 3 and 3 ,.andthe crossbearers shown at 4 and5.- I do notwish to confine myself to the specific construction for a center sill shown in the drawings, as my improvements may be readily adapted to other-known forms of construction.

At the ends of the tank are provided the tank blocks shown at 38 and 39, which may he of wood or metal,

as preferred, against which the lower portions of the ends of the tank abut. The blockcontains the depression 40 to adapt it to the contour iii the tank. It

will be noted that the block is set into the channels of the center sill, and by referringto Fig. 11, it is seen that each of the channels is slit downwardlyat two points .41 and 42, at an interval determined by the thickness of the block, and the slit portion is then bent outwardly, thereby forming a shelf 43 upon which the tank block is positioned and secured in place by bolts 45 and 46, passing upwardly through the holes 47 and 48. The block, when positioned in the transverse openings, on its forward side abuts against the upper portion of the web and flange on each of the channels, and on its rear side also abuts against the upper portion of the web and fiangepn each of the channels, so that the block is buttressed by the channels both at the front and rear, and any strain due to the tendency of the tank to move forward or backward is borne directly by the rear walls of the transverse openings. At this point I provide the spreader or buttress piece 49, bent outwardly at its ends 51) and 51, mounted between the channels and'secured thereto by rivets 52 passing through the bent ends. The spreader is so positioned as to engage the forward side of the tank block, and thereby create a greater bearing surface for said block against buffing stresses thereon exerted from the end of the car.

At the ends of the center sill and somewhat removed from the tank block are positioned the end sills 53 and 54. Between the block and the end sill and at opposite sides of the center sill are the short braces '55 and 56 having extending upwardly and longitudii provide for the support of the tank block on its rear side at a plurality of points distributed so as to take up any stress due to the longitudinal movement of the tank. I I Q V 0n the vfront side of the tank block and abutting against the same at one end 59 andabutting against the tank supports mounted upon the bolster at its other end 50, I provide the I-beams 61 and 62 tojbuttress the tank block'directly in line with the braces 55 and 56. Therefore the block is supported on its forward. side at a plurality of points, and it is effectually braced against the movements of the tank. Additional braces and beams may be provided, if the circumstances require.

In addition tothe rectangular bracing construction just described, I provide at the outer sides of the underframe and adjacent the ends thereof the channel irons 63'and 64, extending from the outer ends of the end sill to the outer ends of the rear tank support mounted 7 upon the bolster, said channel irons being secured at their'ends to said sill and support.

In Fig. 3, the end construction of the underframe just,

described is most clearly shown, and it is apparent that outward stresses thereon would be received chiefly by the tank block, and would be distributed over the rec-' tangular bracing construction shown; inward stresses thereon, due to the bumping of cars or to pushing the tank car by means of. a \push pole applied to either of the pockets 68' and 69, would be at once distributed throughout the bracing construction and finally concentrated upon the center sill. This end construction also takes up and distributes stresses exerted upon the underframe byan angular pull upon the car, such as is experienced when the car is being drawn upon a curve. The end construction is still further united and braced by the provision or the transverse cover plate 70 secured upon the end sill, the channel irons at the sides, the short braces and the center sill, and

occupying preferably the entire space between the pole pocketsshown at 68 and 69 are secured to deep an- 4 gle irons, one arm 72 of which embraces the channel iron 63 and is secured thereto, and the other arm embraces the end sill and is sellred thereto.

The bolster, in the form shown herein, is composed of web plates 73 and 74 on opposite sides of the'center sill and secured thereto at thir inner ends as shown at 75; passing transversely across the center sill, and se-,

cured at its ends to the upper flanges ofsaid web plates is the plate 76-, while said web plates are connected on their under sides by the plate 77, which is secured to the lower flanges of said plates as clearly appears in as appears in Fig. (5; filler plates 80 and 81 are provided,

tank supports and the upper flanges on the bolster web 82 and S3. Said tank supports, at the middle of their transversely thereon adjacent the trucks; tank supporting members mounted upon the bolsters; crossbcarers mounted upon said center sill between the bol- Fig. 4. Reference to the same ligurc discloses the body bolster center brace 78, secured to the center sill channels 35 and 36, by rivets passing through said channels and the inner flanges oithe web plates 73 aml 74; thereby forming a continuously united structure. from one outer end of said bolster to the other, and being secured to said center sill at both. sides, and at the top and bottom thereof. Adjacent the outer ends of said web plates and between the same andsecured thereto are the spreadcrs and 66 having their ends bent inwardly and secured to the inner faces of said webs at 67 and 67.

The tank is mounted at the bolster upon the transverse tank supports 31 and 32, which are mounted upon the plate 76 and secured thereto by rivets 79, which also pass through theupper flanges of the web plates 73 and 74. It will be noted that the plate 76 does not extend completely across the upper face of the bolster,

which are interposed between the lower flanges on the plates, and are secured thereto by rivets, as shown at upper faces are concave, as shown at 6, to adapt them to the contour of the tank. As described hereinbefore the tank strap mooring members 24 are located between the tank supports 31 and 32 and are secured thereto by the rivets 33; these moorings serve also as spreaders, and render the tank support construction more firm. The members 21 for securing the lower end of the support for the hand rail are secured to the inner face of the tank support, as appears in Figs. 4 and -5. I g i In Fig. 14 is shown a modified construction of the tank supports, which is integral, and pressed into the form shown, by well known processes. 1 p

The cross-bearer 5 (see Figs. 2-and 12) is positioned upon the center sill at 84,-and is formed of the channel iron 85 pressed intoa concave form near the middle point of its upper face, and is reinforced by the channol iron 86, which is similarly concaved, to accommodate the curved surface of the tank. In Fig. 13 is shown a modified form of cross-bearer, made of the I beam 87; the middle portion ofthe web is cut out longitudinally thereof and pressure is applied to the upper face to force the metal into the opening, the line of union being shown at 88, whereby the upper lace is made concave as shown at 89, to conform to the curvature of the tank. In Fig. 2 l have shown across-bearer formed of pressed shapes, as in Fig. 12, but the form s .own in Fig. 13 may be used if desired. 3

The brake shaft is shown at 90, at 91 is the stirrup and at 92, 93 and 94 the handholds used in mounting, and retaining position upon, the car; at 95 is shown the ladder for mounting the tank, and at 96 the handheld at the top of the tank.

It is seen from the foregoing description that I provide a entral longitudinal sill of box form, mounted pivotally upon the trucks of the car; bolstcrsmounted stcrs; lrausversc blocks let into the center sill internmdiatc the bolsters and the ends of said sill, and arranged to be supported both l'orwurdly and rcurwardly by said center sill; a buttress piece or spreader secured to the center sill channels and between the same, and arranged to give a bearing surface to said block arid to support the same; a rectangular bracing construction for the end of the car, with thetank block arranged near the middle thereof, whereby stresses outwardly or inwardly either in the longitudinal line of said car or at an angle thereto are taken up and distributed, and all,

center sill; and I also provide brace plates and tie plates in the bracing construction 20 as shown at 97 and 98, for said cross-bearer. I have therefore braced the underfrarne construction of my improved tankcar in every direction and have so arranged the parts that the forces operating thereon are resolved along the longitudinal median line of the center sill.

Although the forms and constructions described are believed to show the preferable embodiment of my improved tank car, yet I do not desire to limit myself to the specific forms described, but I wish to claim any modifications thereof accomplishing the same ends in the same general manner. Nor do I desire to limit myself by any commercial or trade terms employed in the description, but I intend such terms to comprehend any construction of the same general form for accomplish ing the purposes indicated.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tank car comprising a longitudinal conlcisill, transverse bolsters and cross-Mirrors arranged then-on. n tank arranged longitudinally upon said lrisvcrsc bolslcrs and cross-bearers, transverse membersl'olming cm] ubulments for said tank and lot into said ccnlcr'sill so us lo be supported thereby against stl'csscs on sold lllclllbcl' db.

rected reu 'wardly or forwardly.

2. A tank car comprising a loug'lludlnul r-cnlcr sill formed of channels spaced apart and having :1 covcr plate thereon. crossbearcrs and bolsters arranged (box-con. u

tank arranged longitudinally upon said cross-lu-urci's andbolsters, shelves formed on tho sirlos oi said ('lHlllIHlS by slitting the some from above and Hanging the slit poi-lion laterally, .tliorcby'providing slit opcuii in said clmnncls having front and rear walls, lrnnsw members forming .end allotments for. said tank arranged in said slilxopcniir in engagement with said walls and buttress pieces :11-

rangcd between said channels and secured ihcrcto om] adnptcd to be positioned against said transverse members to support the time.

t. A tank cm umlorfra|nc construction comprising a longitudinal center sill formed of channels spnccd apart and having a cover plate thereon, a deep flange on each of said channels formed by slitting down the latter and bonding the slittcd portionlaterally, wlu-rcby n lrunsvcrsiopening through said channel is made. a member ndzlplcrl to be posliioncd transversely in said openings upon said flanges and supported forwardly and rcm'wal'dly' by tho walls-'01 said'opcnings, a buttress plccopol tioncd bctwccn said channels and secured thereto minccnt its ends, and operating to support s21i(l 1m-1nln i' and also to tie said channels together at the points \vbcrc tho sold flanges are iol'mcd thereon. v

(lccp flange on each of said clmnuols l'ol'mcd b;.' slitting I made, a member adapted to be positioned transversely in said oprningsupon said flanges to rest thereon and supported forwardly and rearwardly by the walls of said openings, and a member positioned between s'aid channels adjacent. said transverse openings and adapted to tie said channels together and to support said member positioned therein.

6. A tank car underfl'ame construction comprising a longitudinal center sill formed of channels spaced apart, a deep flange on each of ,said channels formed by slltting- (low-n the latter and bending the slitted portion laterally whereby a transverse opening through said channel is made, a member adapted to be positioned transversely in suid openings upon said flanges to rest thereon and supported forwardly and 'rearwardly by the walls of said openings, and a member positioned between said channcls' adjacent said transverse openings and adapted to tie said channels together and to support saidmember positioned therein, and thereby provide a bracing construction for said center sill at the points where the said flanges are formed thereon.

, 7. A tank car undcrframe construction comprising a longitudinal center sill, a cross-bearer mounted on said sill and having its upper face depressed adjacent themiddle thereof, said depression being formed by removing a pm-- I tion of, said cross-bearer adjacent its center, and compressing the upper portion thereof into said opening,

' whereby the upper face of'said cross-bearer is conformed to the curvature of the tank.

8. A tank car under-frame construction comprising a longitudinal center sill, a cross-bearer mounted on said sill and having its upper facedepressed adjacent the middle thereof, said depression belng fprmed by removing a portion of said cross-bearer adjacent its center, and coil pressing the upper portion thereofinto said opening,

- whereby the upper face of said cross-bearer is conformed to the curvature of the tank, and means carried by said cross-bearer for securing a tank in place thereon against lateral movement.

9: A cross-bearer supporting a tank thereon comprising a channel member having a; 'portion 'ot its upper face pressed into a concave form, and a relntorclng channel member having a portion of its upper face pressed into a concave form and secured to'said first member.

10. A tank car underframe construction comprising a central longitudinal sill formed of channels spaced apart and having-a cove! plate thereon, a cross-bearer on'said sill having an .upper concave face formed by removing a' central longitudinal portion thereof and compressing the upper part into the resulting opening, whereby the supporting face or the cross-bearer is adapted to the curvature ot'the tank, and means carried by said cross-bearer adjacent the end thereof adapted to receive and secure the end of a tank strap.

,11. An end bracing construction for theunderframe construction of a tank car comprising a longitudinal center sill. a t runsverse bolster mounted thereon, a transverse sill mounted at the end of said center. sill, a transverse mm: block let into said center sill intermediate said bolster and end sill, brace plates interposed between said end-sill and tank'block andsecurcd thereto, and bracing secured thereto, and side bracing members interposed be- I tween said end sill and bolster secured thereto. v

, 13. An end bracing construction for the under-frame construction of a tank car comprising a longitudinal center sill, a transverse bolster mounted thereon, a transverse sill mounted at the end of said center-sill, a transverse tank block -let into said center sill intermediate said bolster nnd'end sill, brace plates interposed between said pnd sill and tank block and secured thereto, bracing mcmblock and secured thereto, side bracing members interposed between said end sills and bolster and secured thereto,' a

transverse end cover plate secured to said end sill and side bracing members and abutting against said tank block;

bars interposed directly between said bolster and tank and aside runway secured to said cover plate, said side I brading members, and said bolster.

14. in a tank car a longitudinal center sill, a holster mounted upon said sill and secured thereto, a tank sup port'arranged upon said bolster and having a portion of itsupper face pressed into a concave form for receiving atank said tank support being secured to said bolster!" 15. In a tank car, a longitudinal center sill, web platessecured against said center sill at each side thereof, a cover plate arranged transversely upon said center sill and being secured to the upper flanges of said web plates, a continuous tank support arranged transversely ofso.id car upon said cover plate and having a depression formed by pressing the metal inton' concave shape adjacent the middle of its upper face for receiving a tank.

16. In a tank car, a longitudinal center sill, web plates secured thereto upon each side thereof, :1 cover plate arranged transversely upon said center sill and secured to said upper faces of said web plates, and a tank support arranged transversely of said car upon said cover plate and secured through 'said cover-plate to sold web plates, said tank support being pressed into shape and being formed with a depression in its upper face adjacent the middle thereof.

17. In a tank car, a longitudinal center sill, a bolster formed of two pairs of web plates mounted against said center slll at each-side thereof, a cover plate arranged transversely of said center sill and positioned thereon and upon said web plates and secured to the latter, continuous tank supports arranged transversely upon said center sill and positioned also upon said web plates and secured thereto, and being formed with a depression-n'djz1cent the middle of their upper faces to adapt them to the curvature of a tank.

18. In a tank car, a longitudinal center sill, cross bearers arranged thereon at intervals, bolsters arranged thereon, continuous tank supports arranged upon said bolsters, a 'foot board positioned upon said bolsters and cross bearers adjacent their outer ends, whereby a side channel is dispensed with, and aThund rail supported directly upon said bolsters and cross bearers.

In witness whereof I aliixmy signature in the presence of two witnesses. a

' FRANK L. IRWIN.

Witnesses:

(loo. W. RIGHTMIRE,

A. lL-umu. 

